SISTER Dorothy Laudi’s energy and enthusiasm belie her age – which is “top secret”, she will whisper, with a twinkle in her eye, to anyone keen to know.

But what is surely not a secret is the passion she has for education and learning, evident by the fact that she is in the midst of completing her second master’s degree.

Her love for books does not stop at self-improvement. The nun – who would only say she has lived for over half a century – is also the founder of 11 kindergartens for underprivileged children in Sabah’s rural areas.

“I’m in the middle of writing my thesis on early education for children in rural areas, which I hope to complete by the end of October,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

Sister Laudi runs eight kindergartens in Paitan, one each in Sinsogon and Tinanduk, and a newly opened one in Pensiangan.

The interior division of Pensiangan is about six hours’ drive from Kota Kinabalu, and just 20km from the Kalimantan border.

Sister Laudi said she is set to open another four kindergartens over the next two years.

The kindergartens would not have been a reality if not for the generosity of individuals and civil society groups like the Selangor-based Touching Lives, she said.

The kindergartens do not charge fees. Funds for teachers’ salaries, schooling equipment and petrol for boats that ferry pupils daily are raised through donations.

Sister Laudi said Touching Lives donated RM30,000 for the construction of the kindergarten in Pensiangan.

“Half of my teaching staff are sent to college to become qualified kindergarten teachers. They also train the other teachers,” she said, adding that all of them are registered with the Education Department.

She said donations are kept in a centralised fund, controlled by her convent’s mother superior.

Breaking the poverty cycle

Sister Laudi laments the fact that there are not many civil groups looking to set up early education centres in the interior, saying she has come across only one – Pacos Trust.

She said the high dropout rate among rural children is not only due to logistical challenges, but it is often because students are unable to keep up with the syllabus, as they start school in Year One without having received early education.

“Many of these children are from very poor families. Their parents can’t even afford to send them to school.

“As a result, many are trapped, and they are married off at a young age to reduce the financial burden on their families.

“If they can get good early education, they will have no problem going through primary and secondary school. Hopefully, we can give them a shot at life, and break the cycle of poverty.”

The Tambunan native said several former pupils are about to complete Form Six, and she hopes some will enter university.

Showing off photos on her very first smartphone – a gift from former pupils, who pooled their money to replace her old phone – Sister Laudi said the fruits of her labour, as well as that of all donors and staff members, will be seen soon enough.

She said some of the boys from her very first kindergarten, who have completed the programme at the Montfort Skills Training Centre, are working in Singapore as mechanics and technicians.

“They were from my first batch of pupils in Paitan,” said Sister Laudi proudly. – October 7, 2018.